Frasers Group acquires online fashion retailer

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Frasers Group acquires online fashion retailer

Shirebrook-based Frasers Group has acquired online fashion retailer I Saw It First.

The business, which today has over 5 million consumers, has rapidly grown its digital presence since launching in 2017.

Frasers said it “looks forward to integrating I Saw It First” and that the business will “benefit from the strength and scale of Frasers Group’s platform and from the integration with Frasers’ recently acquired business, Missguided.”

Strong trading continues at Forterra

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Strong trading continues at Forterra
Forterra, the manufacturer of clay and concrete building products, has “delivered a strong performance in the first half of 2022 supported by a backdrop of robust market conditions.” The company noted that brick sales volumes were slightly ahead of the prior year and in line with 2019, limited only by capacity constraints rather than demand, with factories generally operating at capacity and with inventory levels remaining at record low levels. Results have also benefited from the firm’s ability to pass on cost inflation to customers, with two price increases delivered in the period. For the six months ended 30 June 2022, Forterra posted total revenue of £222.8m, an increase of £42.5m (23.6%) on the prior year (£180.3m) and an increase of £29.2m (15.1%) on 2019 (£193.6m). Meanwhile the company reported adjusted profit before tax of £37.3m, compared with a profit of £27.1m in 2021 and £32.7m in 2019, and a statutory profit before tax of £44.2m, compared with a profit of £29.1m in 2021 and £32.7m in 2019. Full year expectations have now slightly increased. Stephen Harrison, Chief Executive Officer, said: “Forterra delivered a strong performance in the first half of 2022, against the backdrop of robust market conditions. Sales volumes were slightly ahead, limited by capacity constraints rather than demand, with our factories generally operating at capacity and with inventory levels remaining at record low levels. “We also benefited from our ability to pass on cost inflation to our customers with two price increases delivered in the period, facilitating an improvement in margins relative to 2021 as a whole. “We continued to produce strong operating cash flows, enabling us to progress our strategic capital investment and innovation plans. Our strong financial position allows us to increase capacity, to better serve our customers; to focus on efficiency; and to reduce our carbon footprint, thus progressing our sustainability agenda. “We anticipate current trading conditions will continue in H2, despite growing macro-economic uncertainty. The temporary closure of our Wilnecote brick factory, ongoing capacity constraints and the closure costs and inefficiencies relating to the old Desford brick factory will influence H2 performance. Despite this, the performance to date and our expectations looking forward, lead the Board to anticipate a full year 2022 result slightly ahead of the Board’s previous expectations.”

Positive progress for Microlise despite challenges of global microchip shortage

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Positive progress for Microlise despite challenges of global microchip shortage
Microlise Group, the Nottingham-based provider of transport management software to fleet operators, is witnessing positive progress despite the challenges created by the global microchip shortage. According to a half year update on trading for the six months to 30 June 2022, the group has seen strong recurring revenue growth with ARR increasing by 10.5% to £40.2m. Microlise has added 60 new customers in the period and expanded its partnerships with existing customers, including MAN Trucks in Malaysia. The business said full-year revenue and profit are to be in line with market expectations. The planned retirement of Bill Wynn, chief financial officer, in Spring 2023, has also been announced.

Nadeem Raza, CEO, Microlise, said: “2022 has shown the vital role Microlise plays in supporting the transport industry through a challenging period. A perfect storm of problems has hit the sector, including the pandemic, Brexit, driver shortages, and a fuel crisis. Fuel accounts for a third of all transport costs and Microlise’s technology gives customers greater visibility and control over their fleets’ fuel consumption.

“Our healthy commercial performance with new customers signing up and existing customers extending their relationships shows how critical Microlise is to our client’s fleet operations. The successful return of the Microlise Transport Conference further highlighted our position as a key industry component.

“Looking ahead, the group has a healthy pipeline of opportunities. We are focused on delivering our acquisition strategy and developing and expanding our product portfolio. In the long term, operators face growing pressure to ensure that fleets are efficient and sustainable. As a result, we are confident the business will meet expectations for the full year and deliver long-term value to our shareholders.”

Rolls-Royce Nuclear Skills Academy set to open doors this autumn

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Rolls-Royce Nuclear Skills Academy set to open doors this autumn
A new academy dedicated to nuclear training in Derby is set to welcome its first set of apprentices this autumn at Infinity Park. Earlier this year, Rolls-Royce Submarines announced plans to open a dedicated training facility as part of its initiative to boost nuclear capability in the UK. The engineering giant will introduce an extra 200 apprenticeships each year for at least the next 10 years to create a pipeline for nurturing talent. The iHub innovation centre – which is owned by the Council and managed by Connect Derby – is to be re-purposed in time to open its doors in September for new apprentices. There is strong interest already, with more than 1,200 applications for the initial 200 places. Offers have been made to over 180 people. At its next meeting on 3 August, Derby City Council Cabinet will be asked to note negotiations to finalise a partial take-up of the building in September for the first-year intake, working towards a full lease in 2023. The Nuclear Skills Academy will be supported by industry and education experts, including the Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) – currently building a new £15 million research facility on Infinity Park in Derby – the National College for Nuclear, the University of Derby as well as Derby City Council. The Council is working with existing iHub office tenants to manage their move to other provision within the Connect Derby estate and to find alternative premises for the current workshop tenants. Councillor Chris Poulter, leader of Derby City Council, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the people of Derby. Apprenticeships aren’t restricted to young people; they’re also open to those who want to re-skill or are looking to change career or who would struggle to pay for their higher-level degrees. All apprentices are paid from the start. “A skills academy can also support key employers in the city and help to secure future talent for decades into the future.” Led by the University of Derby, the new apprenticeships will range from technician to advanced degree level and will be spread across four courses: Nuclear Engineering Degree Apprenticeship, Business Degree Apprenticeship, Nuclear Engineering Technician Apprenticeship and Advanced Engineering Apprenticeship. The new apprentices will provide a regular flow of new nuclear expertise to support Rolls-Royce’s commitments to the UK Submarines programme. For 60 years, Rolls-Royce has provided the power for all the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines from its base in Raynesway, Derby. Their work ensures submariners have the power to protect the UK’s interests at home and further afield.

Celebrate the prowess of the East Midlands’ property and construction industry with leaders from across the region

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Celebrate the prowess of the East Midlands’ property and construction industry with leaders from across the region
Taking place on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, a highlight in the business calendar, will celebrate the region’s property and construction industry while providing a brilliant opportunity to connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks. The event, taking place from 4:30pm – 7:30pm, will also feature John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker, as well as award-winning mind reader, magician, and professional mentalist Looch, who will bewilder and astonish guests during the evening’s networking.

Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours.

With nominations closing on Friday 19 August for East Midlands Business Link’s annual Bricks Awards, there’s not long left to submit your entries for the prestigious event – showcase your business, team and projects. Award categories include: most active estate agent, commercial development of the year, responsible business of the year, residential development of the year, developer of the year, deal of the year, architects of the year, excellence in design, sustainable development of the year, contractor of the year, and overall winner. To submit a business or development please click on a category link below or visit this page.
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000. Find out who last year’s winners were here.
 
Thanks to our sponsors:                                      

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Frozen food distributor appoints new commercial manager

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Frozen food distributor appoints new commercial manager
Northamptonshire-based frozen food distributor Central Foods has promoted Oliver Sampson to commercial manager. Oli joined Central Foods in 2013, originally working in sales and business development. His new appointment has been made to support the catering sector’s gradual bounce back from COVID. Central Foods Managing Director Gordon Lauder said: “Oli has been with us at Central Foods for more than nine years and, in that time, he has brought commitment, professionalism and expertise to each role that he has had within the company. I’m delighted to announce his appointment as commercial manager as the food service sector continues its bounce back from the effects of COVID. “Central Foods is in a strong and buoyant position to serve its food service customers by continuing to offer top quality frozen food from our manufacturing partners, as well as our ever-expanding range of own-brand products, and Oli will play a key role in supporting the directors as we move forward.” Oli, who has worked within the food and drink industry for most of his career, will continue to oversee Central Foods’ business with Brakes, the UK’s largest frozen food distributor, as well as taking on additional commercial duties within the company. He said: “As a small, family business Central Foods is an inspiring place to work and somewhere I can make a real difference, and I am very proud to have been appointed to the position of commercial manager. The food service sector has gone through challenging times in recent years, but this is an exciting point to be taking on a new role as we look to the future.”

Nottinghamshire BIPC announces record year for supporting local businesses

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Nottinghamshire BIPC announces record year for supporting local businesses
Specialist library-based centres to support local entrepreneurs in Nottinghamshire have reported a record year after giving more than 1,000 instances of free business support to Nottingham’s start-up and small businesses owners – over half of them women. Business & IP Centre Nottinghamshire (BIPC) has seen a dramatic increase in activity, with 469 instances of business support delivered between January and March 2022 alone, following the recruitment of a team of advisors and recent openings of four BIPC locals in Bulwell, Beeston, Mansfield and Sutton-in-Ashfield libraries. BIPCs support local entrepreneurs to start, manage and expand successful small businesses, and from March 2021 to March 2022, over 1,000 attendees received free business support from the Nottinghamshire Centre. 39% of these attendees were aspiring entrepreneurs seeking to start their own business and 53% were looking to grow an existing business. The direct face-to-face support available at BIPCs can open up the path to entrepreneurship for anyone with a business idea, regardless of their background. Consistently, over half of those who use a BIPC to set up a business are women, 14% have a disability, and a third are from under-represented ethnic backgrounds. More than triple the national averages for business ownership in the UK, this diverse user base speaks to the accessibility and community-based ethos of this library-based support. The Nottinghamshire Business & IP Centres, led by Nottingham City Council Library Service working with Inspire, is part of a national network of over 100 regional and local Centres working with the British Library. Each Centre, including Nottinghamshire, is equipped with a core set of resources, such as up-to-date market research and business databases. These core resources are brought to life by BIPC Nottinghamshire’s tailored and highly individual programme of events, networking opportunities, workshops and one-to-ones, delivered in collaboration with local business leaders, role model entrepreneurs and community partners such as Potter Clarkson, Rogers Spencer, Summit Creative and Smorgasbord. Last year the success of Nottinghamshire was expanded to Bulwell, Mansfield, Beeston and Sutton-in-Ashfield libraries. This was part of a wider national expansion of library-based business support from 14 BIPCs to over 100 regional and local Centres across England, including in Nottinghamshire, thanks to £13million in Government funding awarded to the British Library. Liz Jolly, chief librarian, British Library, said: “At their heart, libraries are trusted spaces with professional staff who have a mission to connect people with information. From Glasgow to Brighton, our Business & IP Centres harness the power of libraries, bringing in expertise from the local community to help people from all walks of life turn an idea into a successful business. “Over the last year, the BIPC network has hugely outperformed its growth targets and helped to safeguard thousands of jobs through the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. We know that businesses started with the support of our libraries are nearly twice as likely to survive beyond three years than the national average. These remarkable results are living proof of the part libraries can and are playing towards boosting their local economies.” Councillor Pavlos Kotsonis, portfolio holder for leisure, culture and planning at Nottingham City Council, said: “With the recent launch of our BIPC local in Bulwell, it is exciting and positive that libraries can now play a new role in terms of harnessing the potential of businesses and make an important contribution to economic regeneration. “It now is up to us to make the most of the great resources available through our BIPC local and encourage as many people as possible to take advantage of what they can offer. We are delighted our offer has now expanded to Nottinghamshire and look forward to sharing the BIPC programme with Inspire Libraries so we can bring our strategies and service offerings closer together. “There’s no such person as a typical entrepreneur. Coming through the doors of our libraries are people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Expectant mothers, young people, elderly people, those who are out of work, people with disabilities, graduates, those with no qualifications at all. Anyone with a business idea – irrespective of their circumstance or background – is welcome to use our services and get help to get started or grow.”

Major refurbishment on the menu for Derbion’s Food Terrace

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Major refurbishment on the menu for Derbion’s Food Terrace
Derbion is investing more than £2 million into the refurbishment of its food court, introducing a fresh new look, additional seating and new brands, including Popeyes. The investment will increase seating capacity from approximately 650 to 800 to meet growing demand from visitors, with the area being renamed the Food Terrace to reflect its brighter and lighter atmosphere. New flooring and lighting will be introduced to create a refreshed environment, and new mobile charging points, recycling stations and baby and children feeding facilities including microwaves and bottle warmers will be incorporated into the designs. The refurbishment works have started are set to be completed by Autumn 2022, with the area remaining open for customers throughout. Derbion will be bringing a number of new additions to the Food Terrace, to sit alongside its existing variety of grab and go options and standalone restaurants. The first new opening will be famed American fried chicken brand, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. Alongside the investment into the Food Terrace, the adjacent washroom facilities on Level 2 are currently being refurbished with the revamp including a full refresh of the male, female and disabled toilets, as well as the parent room. Adam Tamsett, centre director at Derbion, said: “Our food court has always been a hugely popular destination within the centre, and this demand has only increased over the past two years. Alongside our daytime visitors, the area remains a busy early evening destination, supporting the Showcase Cinema De Lux, Hollywood Bowl and Paradise Island Adventure Golf, as well as Derby Theatre. “The refurbishment will enable us to extend our seating area to welcome even more visitors to our revamped Food Terrace to enjoy a breadth of choice in a contemporary, welcoming environment. “We are committed to our continued investment in the centre to ensure that it meets the changing needs of our customers. The Food Terrace is the next step of that evolution, and we’re looking forward to getting started on this exciting phase of development at Derbion.”

Inclusion strategies in the workplace can improve decision-making and innovation, East Midlands Chamber and emh group find

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Inclusion strategies in the workplace can improve decision-making and innovation, East Midlands Chamber and emh group find
Breaking down the “fear factor” around diversity via education and making adjustments to how new staff are recruited are among the practical changes employers can make to create more inclusive workplaces. These were some of the key findings by East Midlands Chamber and housing association emh group at a roundtable they jointly hosted to gather more intelligence about how to support businesses in establishing an equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy. It follows research published in March that found 48% of East Midlands businesses have a dedicated EDI policy in place, with 68% saying it can contribute to successful business plans and 55% agreeing it was an important part of their leadership strategy. Better workplaces, improved decision-making and increased innovation were among the benefits cited by companies engaged with EDI. The roundtable, held on Tuesday at emh group’s office in Coalville, featured input from organisations including law firm Freeths, ER Recruitment, De Montfort University, manufacturer Hardy Signs and social enterprise Access Rating. Following on from the session, the Chamber and emh group will work with other partners to develop greater support for those wanting to do more to develop an inclusive workplace. East Midlands Chamber director of resources and EDI lead Lucy Robinson said: “It’s become increasingly clear that engagement with EDI is no longer just another bullet point in a company’s benefits package but is now business-critical. “At a time when four in five East Midlands businesses attempting to recruit are struggling to fill roles, we should be doing all we can to widen our labour pool by being more inclusive in our approaches to recruitment – beginning from how we advertise jobs and conduct interviews. “A happy workforce is also one that is more likely to stay in a job. We’ve heard lots about the ‘great resignation’ post-lockdown so creating a more inclusive work environment – where people are given a continuous education that encourages open discussion and breaks down the unconscious biases we all have – will go a long way to helping organisations retain their best people.” Chan Kataria OBE, Chief Executive at emh group, said: “Diversity is a unique selling point for the East Midlands, which has the most diverse communities outside London. “This is something we recognise at emh group, which is why we have engaged in a variety of initiatives in recent years – from supporting more women to take up boardroom positions to deploying the ‘Rooney rule’ to put forward more people from minority backgrounds in interviews for senior positions. “After gathering some very useful data, we now want to go beyond the numbers and understand how we can showcase businesses already succeeding in this area and share best practice so that our region can become a standard-bearer for the EDI discussion.”

Profit and revenue up at Ibstock despite industry-wide inflation and supply chain challenges

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Profit and revenue up at Ibstock despite industry-wide inflation and supply chain challenges
Ibstock, the manufacturer of clay bricks and concrete products and solutions, has hailed a strong first half performance, despite industry-wide inflation and supply chain challenges, resulting in robust profit and cash generation, giving the firm confidence for the full year. According to interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2022, revenue increased by 28% to £259 million, up from £202 million in the same period last year. Meanwhile the Leicestershire-based company posted a statutory profit before tax of £51 million, growing from £39 million. Ibstock noted that trading in the early weeks of the second half is encouraging, with resilient demand across end markets. Joe Hudson, Chief Executive Officer, said: “I am very pleased with the group’s first half performance, delivering profit and cash both significantly ahead of the prior period, supported by sustained robust demand across all our end markets and good operational execution. “We continue to manage inflation and supply chain pressures well and are making good progress with our strategic development plans, with investments in new capacity progressing well, and good momentum in Ibstock Futures, as we focus on the delivery of our ambitious medium term financial targets. “Our market backdrop remains encouraging in the early weeks of the second half – demand is firm, asset utilisation is high and industry inventories remain low – and the strong first half performance gives us confidence in the full year outcome. We have a clear strategy based on both core and diversified growth and will continue to apply our dynamic and disciplined approach to capital allocation. “While we remain mindful of the broader macroeconomic uncertainties, the Board now expects to deliver adjusted EBITDA for the full year modestly ahead of the expectations signalled in April.”

Register now for free entry to the East Midlands Expo!

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Register now for free entry to the East Midlands Expo!
Taking place on Monday 14 November 2022, forge new connections at the East Midlands Expo. An established event of over 20 years, for which Business Link is a proud partner, the free to attend expo is well targeted and aimed at the construction, property, business, investment, finance, professional services and related B2B markets. Hosted at the East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham, the day will begin with exhibitor breakfast networking, with the exhibition opening to attendees at 9am, and a seminar taking place between 10:45am and noon. A special networking lunch (for which tickets can be purchased here) will then take place between 12:15pm and 2:15pm, and the exhibition will close at 3:30pm.

For more information on exhibiting at the event click here.

To register to attend the event for free click here.

To secure tickets for the networking lunch click here.

From property agents to developers, architects, contractors, investors, PR firms, and more, see the list of current exhibitors here.

Student scheme gets green light after mammoth planning battle

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Student scheme gets green light after mammoth planning battle
Plans to redevelop the former Nottingham College campus in Beeston have finally been passed after a mammoth planning battle with Broxtowe Borough Planning Committee. Nottingham-based ALB Group bought the Nottingham College campus on the town’s High Road for an undisclosed sum back in 2020, and worked over the course of 10 months along with Simon Birch from CBP to find a scheme that the planning authorities were happy with and put forward for approval at the Planning Committee. The scheme, which will see the site turned into 162 student apartments, first went to a planning committee in July 2021, and was set aside until the next committee hearing in September. Arran Bailey, Managing Director at ALB Group, said: “Despite having the full support of the planning officers and the head of planning at the committee last September, we lost out by one vote, and started the planning appeal process which has set us back 11 months. It took a massive toll on the company, and it resulted in me having to let people go.” The plans, which were finally given approval on Monday, will see the main college building converted into student accommodation. Arran continued: “We are over the moon to get to this point and happy that we have also been awarded costs. We are looking to get started as quickly as possible onsite. “It has been a long hard process to get to this point, but it has all worked out for us in the end. After a lot of heartache we can now finally see the light at the end of the tunnel and it has been a very hard journey.” Paul Brailsford (national head of planning and environment) at Freeths LLP, who advised on the planning appeal, said: “It is very pleasing that the Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State to determine the appeal has granted planning permission so that the development can now proceed without further delay. “The Inspector acknowledged the sustainable credentials of the proposal and following a thorough analysis of all of the issues concluded that there would be no unacceptable impacts on the local area noting that the Council had acted unreasonably in refusing planning permission as they had failed to provide any evidence to support their position. “With the appellants costs for the appeal to be paid in full by the Council this is the best possible outcome.” Simon Birch, director at CBP Architects, said: “CBP have supported ALB throughout the planning and appeal process and are delighted that the Planning Inspectorate has supported the application and awarded full approval. “We are therefore now looking forward to moving the scheme onto the construction phase, assisting ALB to deliver a high quality student residential scheme, providing much needed accommodation and bringing with it the benefits to the local area and boosting local trade.” Arran continued: “We are pleased to be involved in the transformation of the Beeston gateway. The site isn’t far from the Beeston Square development, which is a hive of activity, and home to The Arc cinema which opened in May 2021 as part of the Council’s long-term, £50million plans to boost Beeston town centre. “We cannot wait to get started on site with immediate effect, and make up for lost time on this project. It is our aim that the first apartments will be ready in September 2023.”

“Strong” first half for Breedon

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“Strong” first half for Breedon
Breedon has witnessed a “strong first half supported by resilient end-markets,” with the construction materials group now expecting its full-year earnings to be at top end of current market expectations. According to unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2022, revenue grew to £671.1m from £600.9m in the same period last year. Meanwhile the Leicestershire-based firm posted an underlying pre-tax profit of £60.9m, up from £48.9m. Breedon noted that while, during the first half, the economic and political backdrop has grown increasingly uncertain, impacting visibility beyond 2022, and it recognises the potential for these developments to affect confidence, it remains optimistic for the remainder of 2022. The company added: “Our customers’ order books are healthy, the mechanism for passing through cost increases has traction and enquiry levels are encouraging. We therefore expect to deliver Underlying EBIT at the top end of the range of consensus expectations. “Our longer-term prospects are underpinned by the resilience of the end-markets we serve; infrastructure demand is well supported by large long-term projects and centrally funded schemes, material industrial projects are coming to market driven by the environmental agenda, and house building order books remain robust.” Rob Wood, CEO, said: “We enjoyed a strong start to 2022. Our teams are focused on getting pricing right, our end market exposure is supportive and that has produced excellent results, advancing our margins and returns towards our medium term targets. “We completed two in-fill transactions during July, with further M&A activity in the pipeline, and we have continued to progress a broad range of sustainability initiatives, including a commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative. “Crucially, we achieved this strong outturn while keeping our people safe and well. We have continued to invest in our team as we prepare for our next chapter of growth and that was reflected in our recent engagement survey where response and engagement rates were the highest ever. “Our colleagues are embracing the challenges presented by the uncertain backdrop, remaining focused on responding nimbly to local market requirements, winning new business, driving efficiencies and delivering first-class service to our customers. Now more than ever, our agile and entrepreneurial DNA will set us apart.”

Bolster your brand at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 – nominations close August 19th!

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Bolster your brand at the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 – nominations close August 19th!
Providing a key opportunity to reinforce your business’s position and reputation in the property and construction industry, enter the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 before nominations close on Friday 19 August! The annual event, organised by East Midlands Business Link Magazine, is an independent awards and publicity programme recognising development projects and people in commercial and public building across the region – from office, industrial and residential schemes, through to community projects such as leisure schemes and schools. The prestigious awards attract leaders from across the region and are the perfect way for businesses to promote themselves and those they work with. Indeed winning one of these awards will add considerably to a company’s or individual’s brand and enhance their commercial reach significantly. Award categories include: most active estate agent, commercial development of the year, responsible business of the year, residential development of the year, developer of the year, deal of the year, architects of the year, excellence in design, sustainable development of the year, contractor of the year, and overall winner. Winners will be revealed at a glittering awards ceremony on Thursday 15 September, at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground – an evening that will also present plenty of time to forge new contacts with property and construction professionals from across the region. Henry Brothers, winners of Commercial Development of the Year at the 2021 East Midlands Bricks Awards, reflected on the event: “Henry Brothers was absolutely thrilled to have won the Commercial Development of the Year award at the East Midlands Bricks for the delivery of the Medical Technologies Innovation Facility at Nottingham Trent University’s Clifton Campus. “The Henry Brothers story began in Northern Ireland in the 1970s and the company has grown to become a leading UK construction company. However, this award for Henry Brothers Midlands cements our position as a significant member of the East Midlands construction sector and we are very proud to have been recognised for our contribution. “We enjoyed the informal atmosphere of the East Midlands Bricks Awards ceremony and hope to nominate projects next year, as we’d very much like to be part of the event in 2022.” To submit a business or development for the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022, please click on a category link below or visit this page.
The Overall Winner of the East Midlands Bricks Awards 2022 will also be awarded a year of marketing/publicity worth £20,000. Find out who last year’s winners were here.

Book your tickets now

Tickets can now be booked for the awards event – click here to secure yours. The special awards evening and networking event will be held on 15 September 2022 in the Derek Randall Suite at the Trent Bridge County Cricket Club from 4:30pm – 7:30pm. Connect with local decision makers over canapés and complimentary drinks while applauding the outstanding companies and projects in our region. The event will also welcome John Forkin MBE DL, Managing Director at award-winning investment promotion agency Marketing Derby, as keynote speaker, as well as award-winning mind reader, magician, and professional mentalist Looch, who will bewilder and astonish guests during the evening’s networking. Dress code is standard business attire.
Thanks to our sponsors:                                      

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Arnold’s first factory-built homes installed

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Arnold’s first factory-built homes installed
The first of 131 off-site manufactured affordable homes have been installed in Arnold. Six modules are being craned into place as part of the first phase of the Birch Fields development on Rolleston Drive, which will be owned and managed by housing provider Jigsaw Homes Group. Each house is being precision-engineered by modular housing firm ilke Homes at the company’s 250,000 sq ft factory in Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. The Homes England-backed development will deliver 45 two-bedroom homes, 73 three-bedroom homes and 13 four-bedroom homes. A total of 46 homes will be available through shared ownership from Snugg Homes, part of Jigsaw Homes Group. The remaining 85 for affordable rent will be managed by Jigsaw Homes Midlands and allocated to local people via Gedling Borough Council. This innovative scheme aims to bring more sustainable housing to the East Midlands. Thanks to precision-engineering techniques, the homes will achieve at least a ‘B’ EPC rating, making them some of the most energy-efficient in the region and meaning residents will benefit from cost savings on energy bills. It is Jigsaw’s first foray into delivering factory-built houses as part of its sustainability strategy to reach net zero carbon by 2050 and a number of the properties will also be fitted with a mix of photovoltaic (PV) panels, Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) and battery storage. The homes, which will be delivered in half the time of traditional methods, will be installed in phases throughout the next year with all 131 homes completed by autumn 2023. Joanne Bonnington, assistant director of development at Jigsaw Homes Group, said: “It has been very exciting to see the first few modules arrive on-site after witnessing them being constructed inside the factory. “Now the homes are being installed, it offers a great sense of how the area will be transformed and what is to come. “We are looking forward to the completion of even more modules with ilke Homes and delivering affordable, sustainable housing to meet local need.” Tom Heathcote, executive director of development at ilke Homes, said: “It’s great to reach the latest milestone at Birch Fields, where ilke Homes, in partnership with Jigsaw Homes Group, is set to deliver one of the UK’s most energy-efficient affordable-led schemes. The new development is breathing life into a once derelict site, making good use of brownfield land. “Thanks to high levels of energy-efficiency, residents will be better protected from the worsening cost-of-living crisis, as bills will be significantly reduced.” Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke MBE said: “A key council priority is to provide more homes to meet the current and future needs of the borough and to identify vacant and underused sites for developments. “I’m pleased to see the progress being made at the Rolleston Drive site and welcome the first homes being delivered at this innovative development on what has been a derelict and unused brownfield site for far too long. “I look forward to seeing the rest of the site develop and the benefits it will bring to the area, and would like to thank Jigsaw Homes for their support and for investing in affordable homes for the borough.”

The future of fintech and how to get involved

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The future of fintech and how to get involved
It is immediately apparent to anyone who has been paying attention that things have been changing pretty quickly in recent months. For about two years it felt like the whole world was standing still, with one notable exception: tech. Now that everyone, and everything, has got back to work and some semblance of normal, we are all playing catch-up with the major leaps and developments. Of course, there are plenty of major forces at work that are less inspiring than innovation. We are seeing rising prices and interest rates amidst the cost-of-living crisis. With so much uncertainty in the marketplace, everyone is worried about the security of their investment. Of all the investments out there, it is those that are intertwined with the advances in tech that seem to be the most exciting and the most secure right now, and fintech is no exception. Fintech has taken some huge leaps and bounds in the last few years, and it is clear that it is in for some exciting times ahead. Here are a few things that you need to know about the future of fintech, and how you can get involved. AI Tech Is A Driving Force You would have to have been paying very little attention at all to have missed the impact that AI has had in all areas of business in recent years. When it comes to fintech, AI in particular is something that will continue to become more essential in making decisions and predicting trends. But it is not just about gathering data. We will see AI making more of an impact when it comes to how companies deal with their customers, allowing more responsive automated interaction. AI will make everything faster and more efficient, and it is not going anywhere. Small Fintech Businesses Are Gathering Speed While there are so many small companies feeling the pinch as a result of the rising cost of living, fintech is going to be experiencing a boom for some time to come. As a result, that means that there are going to be a lot of companies with the potential to make real ground-breaking changes that are going to be looking for financial support. For anyone who is looking to make an investment in new and expanding businesses, this is a sector that should be incredibly appealing. Of course, it can be difficult to know which one to invest in exactly, which is why so many people are investing in EIS schemes. EIS was created by the government to offer tax relief in exchange for investing in new British companies. If you want to learn more about how EIS schemes work, the Oxford Capital Growth EIS could be the answer for you. Visit their website to learn more about what they have to offer. Banks Are Getting Involved The word “fintech” covers a lot of ground, but what you need to remember is if you are thinking about getting involved with fintech it can cover everything from ease of application to data management and customer service. It is precisely for this reason that so many of the world’s major banks are getting involved with developing fintech programmes and companies. For example, blockchain technology has changed the game in so many different areas beyond cryptocurrency, and we are seeing many major banks using it for applications such as smart contracts. One of the main draws of blockchain tech is that it keeps a secure and open record of any transaction, which makes it obviously appealing in this age of heightened security concerns. This brings us to our next point. Security Is Going To Be Paramount One of the main factors that is going to sort the wheat from the chaff with fintech companies is how seriously they take their security. Cybercrime has been rampant over the last couple of years, and it is going to be absolutely crucial that any business dealing in finance have the proper security measures in place to protect their information and their money, as well as those of their clients. This is going to be one of the defining stories of the next couple of years, so if you are thinking of getting involved in fintech, make sure that you are doing your due diligence when it comes to research. Growth, Growth, Growth If you are looking at fintech as a potential investment opportunity, then it makes sense to have a certain degree of caution. Any investment is always going to be a bit of a gamble, but when it comes to fintech it is clear that this is one of the major developments that we are seeing right now. This is an excellent choice for anyone who is looking to invest in a company that is going to continue to grow. As always, it is a good idea to get some expert advice, and to talk to anyone you know who has already invested in this area.

Ocean King to acquire final unit on Derby business park

Tess Egginton
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Ocean King to acquire final unit on Derby business park
Ocean King, the fresh and frozen food wholesale and distribution specialists, are set to take a new 28,000 sq ft industrial premises upon practical completion of its construction, anticipated December 2022. The family business established in 1997, who specialise in the supply of fresh produce and dry goods to the restaurant sector, are currently based in Loughborough and have acquired a new custom designed storage facility within Derby, in deal brokered by Salloway Property Consultants. The property occupies the final plot of Victory Park, a well-located industrial development to the south of Derby which is in close proximity to Rolls-Royce’s Sinfin campus. Salloway Property Consultants acted on behalf of Revelan Group, the developer behind the scheme, who upon completion of Unit 14 will have constructed a total of 15 industrial units on site. Ocean King will join a variety of firms that are already based on Victory Park including Scitek, Grady Joinery, Gardner Aerospace, Seamers Specialist Joinery, Western Power Distribution and Intertek NDT. The final building is currently under construction and will provide a modern detached industrial unit tailored to meet the requirements of Ocean King, with two storey offices and warehouse accommodation incorporating both refrigerated and frozen cold storage elements, together with an exclusive yard that houses parking provisions for 50 vehicles as well as external space for loading and vehicle manoeuvring. Paul Doolan, of Revelan Group, said: “We are pleased to be working with Ocean King on their bespoke new premises in Derby, where our contractor Amphion Construction Limited are already making good progress on the building.” Hugo Beresford, of Salloway Property Consultants, who are joint agents on the scheme with FHP Property Consultants, said: “It has been a pleasure to help put this deal together, but it is bittersweet to have disposed of the final unit on the scheme. “We received a good level of interest in the unit, which was being built out speculatively by the client, and I’m delighted that we were able to agree sale terms with Ocean King during the construction process, enabling them to have a say in the final specification and configuration of the property. The result is a high-quality bespoke facility that I’m sure will serve their business operations and plans for growth over the years to come.” Ocean King, who were represented by property asset consultants Kirby-Welch & Co, cover the whole of the UK (including Northern Ireland) and viewed the opportunity as an ideal way to expand their business whilst continuing to offer the same quality and personal service to new and existing catering industry clients. Steven Thai, Managing Director of Ocean King, said: “Having just celebrated our 25th anniversary this year, Ocean King are incredibly excited to be coming to Derby. On top of our established food service business, our investment of £5 million in this brand-new premises will allow us to actuate our dreams of having a state-of-the-art well-being centre for our employees and also a business hub bringing together like-minded people. “This move will open up 150 jobs for the people of Derby; we will be employing a full team ranging from senior leaders to forklift drivers and HGV drivers. From our humble beginnings as Vietnamese immigrants, we are proud of this achievement and look to continue to ‘create opportunities and enrich the lives’ of all those associated with Ocean King.” James Kirby-Welch, of Kirby-Welch & Co, said: “The freehold acquisition at Victory Park, Derby, presented Ocean King with an ideal strategic location within the East Midlands and with opportunity to customise the unit allowing for future growth over the next phase for the family business.”

50% turnover growth and new Nottingham office for recruiter born out of pandemic

Tess Egginton
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50% turnover growth and new Nottingham office for recruiter born out of pandemic
Specialist recruitment consultancy Prescient Group is celebrating doubling its turnover in its second year of business and its move to a new office in Nottingham. The firm, which has further branches in Manchester and London, was formed during the pandemic in 2020 by seasoned recruiters Joel Fletcher, Charlotte Churm and Ed Robinson. With a specialism in office professional, Prescient Group has experienced rapid growth since its inception, with turnover growing by over 50% in 2022 compared to 2021. The company is also on track to reach a £1m turnover by the end of this year. The company has grown to eight recruitment professionals, with the recent appointment of Georgie Leech as temps account manager and Daisy Owen as permanent consultant, and recruitment continues across its three offices, which will take its headcount to 15 by the end of 2023. The expansion of the team and continued demand for its recruitment services – which cover office, supply chain, marketing, finance and HR – has led to the team taking the lease of a new, larger office on Bridlesmith Walk in Nottingham, having previously been in Atomic House on High Pavement. Director, Joel Fletcher, said: “We set up Prescient Group to quite simply provide our clients with an honest, ethical and first-class service and truly work in partnership with them and our candidates. “We have worked hard to define our offering, invest in technology and build a team of skilled and passionate professionals. This collectively has enabled us to be agile and provide the very best service to our clients and enabled us to invest out time to provide bespoke advice and coaching to our candidates. “Charlotte, Ed and I are over the moon with how the business is performing and the difference we are making to people’s lives. The impact of people being placed in the right role for them cannot be underestimated and that is why we love what we do.” Over its 20-months in business, Prescient Group has built up a portfolio of 65 clients, added executive search to its offer and expanded into the international market. Joel continued: “From the outset, we have reinvested our revenues into company development which has enabled us continually to recruit the best of the best. We empower our people and deliver bespoke training, so they have the skills and confidence they need to deliver. As a team, we are incredibly excited to be on this growth journey and want to thank our clients and candidates for choosing to work with us.”

Property investor acquires 47,882 sq ft industrial facility for £3.5m

Tess Egginton
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Property investor acquires 47,882 sq ft industrial facility for £3.5m
Custodian REIT, the property investment company, has acquired a 47,882 sq ft industrial facility located two miles from junction 29 of the M1 near Chesterfield. The industrial facility is fully let to Container Components Limited with 20 years remaining on the lease. The £3.5 million acquisition was funded from the company’s existing debt facilities. Richard Shepherd-Cross, Managing Director of Custodian Capital Limited (the company’s discretionary investment manager), said: “This well located, modern industrial asset has been acquired at an entry yield of 6.10% which is significantly above the market average for industrial assets. “The property also benefits from five-yearly index linked rental increases which provide long-term inflation-adjusted income. The acquisition demonstrates our continued ability to source high quality assets on behalf of our shareholders which offer enhanced but secure income returns by focussing on smaller sized properties where there is reduced competition.”

Rolls-Royce appoints new CEO

Tess Egginton
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Rolls-Royce appoints new CEO
Tufan Erginbilgic has been appointed as Rolls-Royce’s new Chief Executive Officer and an executive director of Rolls-Royce Holdings plc. Taking up his new role on 1 January 2023, Tufan will succeed Warren East. Tufan, who has a background in engineering, has built his career in international business including over 20 years with BP, with five years as part of its executive team. In his last role before leaving in 2020, he led BP’s downstream business, which included Refining, Petrochemicals, Service Station Network, Lubricants, Midstream operations and the Air BP jet fuel operation. During Tufan’s tenure, the business was transformed, achieving record profitability and delivering record-setting safety performance. He has held several non-executive directorships in heavy industry and manufacturing companies, including at aerospace technology group GKN. He is currently a partner at Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a private equity firm which focuses on large-scale investments in infrastructure businesses and manages $81bn for investors. Anita Frew, chair, Rolls-Royce, said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Tufan Erginbilgic as Chief Executive. He is a proven leader of winning teams within complex multinational organisations, with an ability to drive a high-performance culture and deliver results for investors. “He has extensive strategic and operational experience and a firm understanding of safety critical industries, including aerospace, as well as the challenges and commercial opportunities presented by the drive for low carbon technologies. “He has a strong track record for execution, delivery and the creation of significant value. I look forward to him building on the strategic foundations that Rolls-Royce has laid over recent years.” Tufan Erginbilgic said: “I am honoured to be joining Rolls-Royce at a time of significant commercial opportunity and strategic evolution as its customers embrace the energy transition. “I am determined to deliver the full potential of the market positions which the company has built over many years, through its engineering excellence and innovative technology, and to build a platform for growth in order to create value for all stakeholders. “I look forward to working with customers, partners and the Rolls-Royce team across the world on the next successful chapter for this iconic global engineering brand.” Tufan Erginbilgic is currently a non-executive director of multinational transport vehicle manufacturer Iveco Group NV; energy, healthcare and technology group DCC plc; and energy company Türkiye Petrol Rafinerileri A.Ş (Tupras). Tufan will be reviewing his involvement in these positions.
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